Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN), Northern Ireland’s leading professional and technical qualifications awarding body, has appointed Anne-Marie McClure MBE as its new Chair and John D’Arcy OBE as its new Vice Chair. OCN’s mission is “to develop and award qualifications which engage, enrich and equip learners for life.”
Anne Marie’s contribution to public life and to the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland spans more than four decades. Anne-Marie retired in November 2022, having held the position of Chief Executive at Start360, a cutting-edge provider of support services to young people and adult offenders, including their families across Northern Ireland. A Health Visitor by profession, she has worked across both the public and voluntary sectors, developing a leadership style that has always put people first. Recently, Anne-Marie was awarded the 2026 CO3 Lifetime Achievement Award.
John D’Arcy retired in March this year, and was previously the Principal and National Director of The Open University in Ireland since 2010. Prior to The OU, John was Chief Executive of Colleges Northern Ireland, the membership association of all Further Education colleges locally, joining from a previous career in management consultancy. Both Anne-Marie and John have been Board Members of OCN since 2018.
Anne-Marie McClure said: “It is an honour to take up the position of OCN Chair. I look forward to leading a committed and effective Board with diligence and innovation, keeping OCN learners and centres firmly at the heart of everything we do. Having spent over four decades working across Northern Ireland’s public and voluntary sectors, I am delighted to now support and strengthen OCN, helping to champion better outcomes for the people and communities we serve.”
As Northern Ireland’s leading professional and vocational awarding body, OCN has developed and awarded qualifications that engage, enrich and equip learners for life since 1995. Working with OCN recognised centres, including schools, further education colleges, third sector organisations, private training organisations, prison services, health trusts, employers and the education authority, OCN plays a key role in shaping pathways to learning and employment. Today, OCN stands as a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s education ecosystem.
John D’Arcy commented: “I am delighted to take up this important position with OCN. I have experience of serving as a non-executive director on a range of organisations at Chair, Vice Chair and Board member levels, including AONTAS (Ireland’s Adult Learning Organisation), Universities Ireland, Audiences NI (Thrive), Oh Yeah Music and Sport NI. I hope that this range of sectors and issues can add value to my role as Vice Chair at OCN.”
OCN Chief Executive Martin Flynn said: “I am delighted to welcome Anne-Marie and John as our new Chair and Vice Chair. Both have already made a significant contribution to the development of OCN in recent years, and their unique blend of skills will help to ensure that we continue to deliver on our vision, “for a successful and inclusive society where every learner matters.” OCN aligns with the core priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Programme for Government, particularly Grow a Globally Competitive and Sustainable Economy and Shaping a Better Tomorrow. Over the next three years, OCN is committed to ensuring its qualifications support economic growth and improve employability, helping to create a fairer, more inclusive society.”
OCN develops qualifications that reflect the skills employers and workers need now and, in the future, expanding its range in key areas including digital technology, green energy, advanced manufacturing and health & social care. In 2025, OCN celebrated its 30th anniversary in Northern Ireland, during which time over 900 000 learners discovered a new range of possibilities.